Adjustable underground utility boxes with shortening prevention sleeves

ABSTRACT

The present disclosure provides shortening prevention sleeves for adjustable underground utility boxes, underground utility boxes including such sleeves, and methods of preventing shortening of underground utility boxes with such sleeves. A sleeve comprises a substantially rigid elongate tube that defines an internal cavity. The tube is configured to allow a stem portion of an adjustable underground utility box to extend fully therethrough via the internal cavity. The sleeve also comprises an opening that extends along the length of the tube and provides a passageway into the internal cavity. The tube is configured to allow the stem portion of the box to pass through the opening and into the internal cavity. The sleeve is configured to extend over and along the stem portion and between enlarged top and bottom portions of the box to prevent the stem portion, and thereby the box as a whole, from shortening.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This present application perfects and claims the benefit of U.S.Provisional Patent Application No. 62/490,274, filed on Apr. 26, 2017,entitled No Slip Sleeve for Adjustable Underground Utility Boxes, thecontents of which is hereby expressly incorporated herein by referencein its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This present disclosure relates generally to the field of adjustableunderground utility boxes such as, for example, valve boxes, curb boxes,service boxes and test stations, and more specifically, to a no slipsleeve for adjustable underground utility boxes.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Pipelines are used for transporting water, petroleum products, naturalgas, and other utilities, such as electrical, telecommunications, fiberoptics and other similar utilities. There exists a huge network ofpiping systems used in every country all over the world. In many cases,pipelines are buried underground and may include markers, indicators,valves or other aspects that need to be accessed, monitored or treatedfrom above ground.

Some buried pipelines (e.g., pipelines formed from metallic orelectrically conductive materials) or other structures are exposed to anelectrochemical corrosion process underground. During this process, thepipeline becomes an electrode and the soil becomes an electrolyte suchthat an electrolytic cell is formed causing corrosion of the buried orunderground pipeline structure. If this corrosion is not mitigated,dangerous and expensive damage can result.

There are several corrosion control techniques used on undergroundpipelines, including, for example, cathodic protection. A cathodicprotection system may be used to measure the effectiveness of cathodicprotection, and/or protect personnel from accidental contact withelectrical terminals of test leads. In a typical cathodic protectionsystem, a cathodic protection test station is used to protect theelectrical leads and provide an indication to personnel where the systemis located underground. A typical test station has top portion at ornear the top surface of the ground, a cylindrical plastic reference tubeextending downwardly though the ground (e.g., soil) to a bottom portionthat is positioned underground near the protected structure, such as apipe. The bottom portion may be electrically coupled to the protectedstructure, and the test station may also be electrically coupled to (andpotentially include) a sacrificial metal that is more easily corrodedthan the protected structure to act as an anode during theelectrochemical corrosion process (so as to make the protected structurea cathode to protect it from corrosion).

Other pipelines include, for example, valves, such as a water or gasvalve, positioned in line with a water or gas line (e.g., a main line).In this situation, a valve box may be used to protect the water or gasvalve and provide an indication of and/or access thereto to personnelabove ground of the location of the valve or other structure. A typicalvalve box 300, as illustrated in FIG. 4, has a base or bottom portion220 that is positioned (e.g., centered) over or proximate to theoperating nut of the valve (or other structure) within the ground, a topportion 210 with cover positioned flush or slightly below with thefinished grade of the ground, and one or more stem portions 230, 240extending between the top and bottom portions 210, 220. The valve box300 is typically hollow, and the top portion 210 may include a cap orother removable top as shown in FIG. 4, so as to provide access throughthe valve box to the underground structure.

During installation, the top portion 210 of such a valve box 300 isadjusted for elevation while the base or bottom portion 220 is centeredover the pipe or other structure (e.g. over an operating nut and/orvalve, for example). Proper alignment and height or length of, forexample, a valve box 300 must be maintained. With both valve boxes andtest stations, the distance between the top 210 and bottom 220 portionsare sometimes adjustable by, for example, the use of rigid fixed lengthextension or stem pieces coupled in an adjustable arrangement. Forexample, as shown in FIG. 4 a typical valve box 300 may include a firststem portion 230 that extends from the top portion 210, and a secondstem portion 240 that extends from the bottom portion 220. As shown inFIG. 4, the first stem portion 230 and the top portion 210 may beintegral or of one-piece construction or fixedly coupled together, andthe second stem portion 240 and the bottom portion 220 may be integralor of one-piece construction or fixedly coupled together. The adjustablearrangement of the valve box 300 may be, for example, provided by ascrew or slip adjustment configuration or mechanism between the firstand second stem portions 230, 240 where one stem is telescopicallyreceived by the other stem such that the overall distance between thetop 210 and bottom 220 portions is altered by altering the physicalrelationship (e.g., rotational/angular and/or axial relationship)between the first and second stem portions 230, 240. In anotherembodiment, the first and second stem portions 230, 240 may bethreadably coupled. However, the box 300 may include any otheradjustable coupling mechanisms or configurations that allow the totalheight/length of the first and second portions 230, 240 to be adjustedor changed.

During current installation of typical underground utility boxes, thedistance between the top 210 and bottom 220 portions thereof istypically adjusted while at least one portion of the box 300 isinstalled in the ground. For example, the bottom or base portion 220 ofa box 300 is typically translated into the ground and set over thevalve/valve nut or other underground structure as a first step ofinstallation. With the bottom portion 220 over or proximate to theunderground structure, an installer typically fits or coupled the firstand second stem portions 230, 240 together, while, at the same time,adjusting the stem portions 230, 240 to arrive at the desired distancebetween the top 210 and bottom 220 portions. This process is acumbersome task, especially considering the size and weight (e.g., castiron components) of some boxes 300. For example, relatively largeunderground utility boxes may include twenty-pound casting components orportions (or as a whole) that may take several attempts atfitting/adjusting to achieve the correct height/length of the box.

Over time, underground utility boxes, such as but not limited to valveboxes, test stations, curb boxes and other devices or applications thatuse adjustably-coupled stem portions, tend to slip, adjust or sinkfurther into the ground than as compared to when originally installed,such as due to temperature fluctuations, ground settling, roadvariation, vibrations, or other circumstances. Such events typicallyoccur over time, but may occur during initial installation. The slippingor sinking of an underground utility box into the ground can cause potholes or depressions in the top surface of the ground—which occurs oftenon busy highways or roads. Further, an existing underground utility boxthat requires replacement (e.g., due to damage or an inability to besufficiently adjusted (e.g., fails to include enough height/lengthtravel or adjustability)) to prevent and/or address a depression atfinished grade caused by sinking of at least the top portion 210thereof, must be removed and replaced with a new underground utility boxassembly, which could be a costly procedure.

While certain aspects of conventional technologies have been discussedto facilitate disclosure of the disclosure, Applicant in no waydisclaims these technical aspects, and it is contemplated that theclaimed disclosure may encompass one or more of the conventionaltechnical aspects discussed herein.

In this specification, where a document, act or item of knowledge isreferred to or discussed, this reference or discussion is not anadmission that the document, act or item of knowledge or any combinationthereof was, at the priority date, publicly available, known to thepublic, part of common general knowledge, or otherwise constitutes priorart under the applicable statutory provisions; or is known to berelevant to an attempt to solve any problem with which thisspecification is concerned.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Briefly, the present disclosure satisfies the need for undergroundutility boxes that do not create depressions at grade level and/orrequire full removal for replacement and/or grade level depressionprevention and/or repair. The present disclosure may address one or moreof the problems and deficiencies of the art discussed above. However, itis contemplated that the disclosure may prove useful in addressing otherproblems and deficiencies in a number of technical areas. Therefore, theclaimed disclosure should not necessarily be construed as limited toaddressing any of the particular problems or deficiencies discussedherein.

Certain embodiments of the presently-disclosed underground utilityboxes, non-adjustable sleeves for underground utility boxes and relatedmethods for making, repairing and/or replacing underground utility boxeshave several features, no single one of which is solely responsible fortheir desirable attributes. Without limiting the scope of theunderground utility boxes, sleeves for underground utility boxes andrelated methods as disclosed herein and defined by the claims thatfollow, their more prominent features will now be discussed briefly.After considering this discussion, and particularly after reading thesection of this specification entitled “Detailed Description of theDisclosure,” one will understand how the features of the variousembodiments disclosed herein provide a number of advantages over thecurrent state of the art.

The shortcomings of the prior art may be alleviated by adjustableunderground utility boxes that include a no slip, shorteningprevention/preventing, non-adjustable or fixed-length/height sleeveconstructed in accordance with one or more aspects of the presentdisclosure. The non-adjustable sleeves may be used with adjustableunderground utility boxes such as, for example, valve boxes, teststations, service boxes and curb boxes. The non-adjustable sleeveprovides a precise installation process by eliminating any awkward orcumbersome slippage or adjustment of, for example, two adjustable stemportions of an adjustable underground utility box during installation.The non-adjustable sleeve may also lessen chances of dropping, breaking,or putting together an adjustable utility box in a ditch/hole. Stillfurther, the non-adjustable sleeve prevents sinkage, slippage,adjustment or other movement of the top portion of underground utilityboxes into the ground subsequent to initial installation. Additionally,other uses may be made of the inventions provided by this disclosurethat fall within the scope of the claimed invention but which are notspecifically described below.

Additional features and benefits will become apparent from the followingdrawings and descriptions of the present disclosure. Other embodimentsand aspects of inventions of the present disclosure are described indetail herein and are considered a part of the claimed inventions.

In one aspect, the present disclosure provides a method of preventingshortening of an adjustable underground utility box. The methodcomprises adjusting the length of a stem portion of a utility box toadjust the distance between top and bottom portions of the utility boxsuch that when the bottom portion is positioned underground at orproximate to an underground structure the top portion is positioned ator proximate to a top surface of the ground. The method furthercomprises coupling a substantially rigid sleeve to the stem portion suchthat the sleeve extends between the top and bottom portions of theutility box to prevent the stem portion from shortening the distancebetween the top and bottom portions.

In some embodiments, the sleeve prevents movement of the top portion ofthe utility box toward the bottom portion and the underground structurewhen the bottom portion is positioned underground at or proximate to theunderground structure. In some embodiments, the method further comprisespositioning the bottom portion of the utility box underground at orproximate to the underground structure such that the top portion of theutility box is positioned at or proximate to the top surface of theground. In some such embodiments, the sleeve is coupled to the stemportion prior to the bottom portion being positioned underground at orproximate to the underground structure. In some other embodiments, thebottom portion is positioned underground at or proximate to theunderground structure prior to the sleeve being coupled to the stemportion.

In some embodiments, the sleeve comprises an elongate tube member thatdefines an internal cavity that extends through the tube, and couplingthe sleeve to the stem portion comprises positioning the stem portionwithin the internal cavity. In some such embodiments, the tube membercomprises an opening that extends along the entirety of the length ofthe tube member, and positioning the stem portion within the internalcavity comprises passing the stem portion through the opening. In someembodiments, adjusting the length of a stem portion comprises adjustinga connection between a first stem portion extending from the top portionand a second stem portion extending from the bottom portion.

In another aspect, the present disclosure provides a sleeve for anadjustable underground utility box. In some embodiments, the sleevecomprises a substantially rigid tube member that is elongated along aheight direction and defines an internal cavity that extends through thetube along the height direction and an opening that extends along theentirety of the tube member along the height direction and is incommunication with the internal cavity. The tube member is configured tocouple to a length adjustable stem portion that extends between bottomand top portions of an adjustable underground utility box along theheight direction such that the stem portion extends through the internalcavity and the tube member extends between the top and bottom portionsto prevent the distance between the top and bottom portions along theheight direction from shortening.

In another aspect, the present disclosure provides and undergroundutility box. The utility box comprises a top portion configured to bepositioned at or proximate to a top surface of a ground when the box isinstalled, and an elongate first sleeve portion extending from the topportion along a height direction. The utility box further comprises abottom portion configured to be positioned underground at or proximateto an underground structure when the box is installed, and a secondsleeve portion extending the bottom portion along the height direction.The utility box also comprises a stem portion extending between the topand bottom portions along the height direction. The length of the stemportion along the height direction is adjustable to adjust the distancebetween the top and bottom portions along the height direction andthereby the total height of the box. The utility box further comprises asubstantially rigid sleeve extending between the top and bottom portionsthat prevents the stem portion from shortening the distance between thetop and bottom portions along the height direction and thereby theshortening of the total height of the box.

In some embodiments, the sleeve comprises a tube member that iselongated along the height direction and defines an internal cavity thatextends through the tube along the height direction. In some suchembodiments, the stem portion extends through the internal cavity suchthat the tube member extends about the stem portion. In some suchembodiments, the tube member comprises an opening that extends along theentirety of the length of the tube member along the height direction,and sleeve is configured to allow the stem portion to pass through theopening of the tube member. In some such embodiments, a width of theopening of the tube member is equal to or greater than a width of thestem portion. In some other such embodiments, a width of the opening ofthe tube member is less than a width of the stem portion, and the tubemember is deformable to widen the opening to a width that is equal to orgreater than the width of the stem portion.

In some embodiments, the sleeve allows the stem portion to lengthen thedistance between the top and bottom portions along the height directionand thereby the lengthen of the total height of the box. In someembodiments, the stem portion comprises a first stem portion extendingfrom the top portion toward the bottom portion along the heightdirection, and a second stem portion extending from the bottom portiontoward the top portion along the height direction. In some suchembodiments, the first and second stem portions are telescopicallycoupled or threadably to provide the height adjustability of the sleeve.

In some embodiments, the top portion, the stem portion and the bottomportion form an internal passageway that provides access to theunderground structure from above the ground. In some embodiments, theutility box further comprises a sacrificial metal material electricallycoupled to the underground structure that is more easily corroded by anelectrochemical corrosion process than the underground structure toprotect the underground structure from corrosion.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The subject matter which is regarded as inventions is particularlypointed out and distinctly claimed in the claims at the end of thespecification. The foregoing and other objects, features, and advantagesof the present disclosure are apparent from the following detaileddescription taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings inwhich:

FIG. 1 depicts a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of anunderground utility box sleeve constructed in accordance with one ormore aspects of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 depicts a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of anunderground utility box with the sleeve of FIG. 1 being installed inaccordance with one or more aspects of the present invention installedon a valve box;

FIG. 3 depicts a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of anunderground utility box with the sleeve of FIG. 1 in accordance with oneor more aspects of the present invention installed on a valve box; and

FIG. 4 depicts an exemplary embodiment of a prior art adjustableunderground utility box.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

Aspects of the present disclosure and certain features, advantages, anddetails thereof, are explained more fully below with reference to thenon-limiting embodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawings.Descriptions of well-known materials, fabrication tools, processingtechniques, etc., are omitted so as to not unnecessarily obscure thedisclosure in detail. It should be understood, however, that thedetailed description and the specific example(s), while indicatingembodiments of the disclosure, are given by way of illustration only,and are not by way of limitation. Various substitutions, modifications,additions and/or arrangements within the spirit and/or scope of theunderlying concepts will be apparent to those skilled in the art fromthis disclosure.

Reference will be made below in detail to exemplary embodiments of thedisclosure, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numerals used throughoutthe drawings refer to the same or like aspects.

For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of a noslip, shortening prevention/preventing, non-adjustable orfixed-length/height sleeve, and underground utility boxes and relatedmethods including such a sleeve, designed and constructed in accordancewith one or more aspects of the present disclosure, reference will nowbe made to the embodiments, or examples, illustrated in the drawings andspecific language will be used to describe these. It will neverthelessbe understood that no limitation of the scope of any invention providedherein is thereby intended. Any alterations and further modifications inthe described embodiments, and any further applications of theprinciples of the present disclosure as described herein arecontemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to whichthe no slip, shortening prevention/preventing, non-adjustable orfixed-length/height sleeves and underground utility boxes and relatedmethods incorporating such sleeves relates.

A no slip, shortening prevention/preventing, non-adjustable orfixed-length/height sleeves designed and constructed in accordance withone or more aspects of the present disclosure, and underground utilityboxes and related methods, would benefit any industry that utilizesunderground utility boxes such as, for example, valve boxes, curb boxes,service boxes, and test stations, including, for example, the gas,ground water, waste water, sewer, corrosion and electric industries.Thereby, the present disclosure provides underground utility boxes andmethods of making/manufacturing, providing and installing such boxes,that incorporate or include a no slip, shortening prevention/preventing,non-adjustable or fixed-length/height sleeve.

FIG. 1 depicts one embodiment of a no slip, shorteningprevention/preventing, non-adjustable or fixed-length/height sleeve 100constructed in accordance with one or more aspects of the presentdisclosure. As illustrated in FIG. 1, no slip, shorteningprevention/preventing, non-adjustable or fixed-length/height sleeve 100includes an elongated hollow cylindrical tube 105. The tube 105 isformed of a relatively thin wall that extends about an axis to form aninternal space, cavity or void (e.g., a cylindrical void) extendingtherein. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the internal cavity may be open oraccessible at opposing ends or sides of the tube 105. In this way, theinternal cavity may extend fully through the tube 105 along theheight/length direction.

As also shown in FIG. 1, the tube 105 comprises a longitudinal slit orspace 110 extending the entire length or height of the tube 105 thatprovides an opening to the internal cavity. The slit, space or opening110 allows the sleeve 100 to fit around any existing stems of anunderground utility box 200, such as for example a valve box. Theunderground utility box 200 may be substantially similar to theunderground utility boxes 300 described above with respect to FIG. 4.For example, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 the sleeve 100 may be applied tostems of an underground utility box 200 by passing stem portions 230,240 of the underground valve box 200 through the opening 110 such thatthey extend through the internal cavity. In some embodiments, theopening 110 may be sized and configured such that the stem portions 230,240 can freely extend or pass through the opening 110 into the internalcavity (when aligned there-along or therewith). In some otherembodiments, the opening 110 may be sized and configured such that thestem portions 230, 240 cannot freely extend or pass the opening 110 intothe internal cavity (when aligned there-along or therewith). Forexample, the opening 110 may be sized and configured such that the tube105 must be deformed (e.g., elastically or plastically) to expand theopening such that the stem portions 230, 240 extend or pass the opening110 into the internal cavity (when aligned there-along or therewith). Insuch embodiments, the tube 105 may thereby be deformable (elasticallyand/or plastically) in a width, radial, angular or circumferentialdirection to allow the size of the opening 110 to increase (along such adirection) to allow the stem portions 230, 240 to pass therethrough. Insome embodiments, after insertion of the stem portions 230, 240 throughthe opening 110 such that they are housed within the internal cavity,the tube 105 may elastically deform such that the opening 110 is sizedand configured to prevent the stem portions 230, 240 from freely passingthough the opening 110. Thereby, in some embodiments the sleeve 100 maybe configured to maintain the stem portions 230, 240 within the internalcavity.

As shown in FIGS. 2-3, the sleeve 100 may be positioned over an upper orfirst stem 230 that extends from the top portion 210 and a lower orsecond stem 240 that extends from the bottom portion 220 of a valve boxan underground utility box 200 (e.g., a valve box). As shown, the sleeve100 may thereby extend over the first and second sleeves 230, 240 andbetween the upper portion 210 and the lower portion 220. As shown inFIGS. 2 and 3, the maximum diameter or width of the top portion 210 andthe lower bottom portion 220 may be greater than that of the internalcavity of the tube 105. The tube 105 (and thereby the sleeve 100) may besubstantially stiff/rigid and strong in the height/length direction(e.g., configured to resist deformation along the height/lengthdirection under loads experienced in underground utility boxapplications) such that it prevents the top portion 210 and the lowerbottom portion 220 from moving (e.g., via the first and second stems230, 240) towards each other along the height/length direction (i.e.,prevent the relative distance therebetween from shortening). However,the sleeve 100 may allow the top portion 210 and the lower bottomportion 220 from moving (e.g., via the first and second stems 230, 240)away from each other along the height/length direction (i.e., allow therelative distance therebetween to enlarge). For example, the sleeve 100may allow the top portion 210 and the first sleeve portion 230 (whichmay be integral or fixedly coupled) from translating along theheight/length direction away from the bottom portion 220 and the secondstem portion 240 (which may be integral or fixedly coupled), such aswhen the bottom portion 220 and the second stem portion 240 arepositioned at least partially underground or not yet installedunderground. In such an embodiment, the height/length of an undergroundutility box 200 may be modified by adjusting the relative distance(i.e., increasing or decreasing the distance) between the top portion210 and the bottom portion 220 to a desired distance (e.g., to providethe valve box 200 with a total desired height/length) and installing thesleeve 100 configured to such a modified distance on the stem portions230, 240 thereof and fully between the top portion 210 and the bottomportion 220. In some such embodiments, an existing sleeve 100 configuredto a previous or existing distance may be removed prior to installingthe sleeve 100 configured to the modified distance. Further, asdescribed above, the tube 105 may be deformable in a width or likedirection to allow the opening 110 to be manually enlarged.

The sleeve 100 thereby fixes the position or distance between the topportion 210 and the bottom portion 220 of the valve box 200, and therebythe total minimum length or height of the valve box 200. The length orheight of the sleeve 100 may be sized to accommodate a variety oflengths and diameters of utility boxes 200. In one example, the sleeve100 may be made of flexible PVC material. By using a flexible PVCmaterial or another plastic, composite or other relatively workablematerial(s), an installer is able to field cut the exact desired lengthfor the particular application of the sleeve 100 in the field duringinstallation (e.g., to form an underground utility box 200 of alength/height that extends from the bottom portion 220 positionunderground proximate to an underground structure to the upper portion210 positioned even with or proximate to a top surface or grade of theground).

As previously discussed, the distance between the top 210 and bottom 220portions of an underground utility box 200 (for example, a valve box) isinitially determined during installation based on the distance between,for example, an underground pipe, valve or other structure and ground orgrade level. An installer may thereby adjust the distance between thetop 210 and bottom portions 220 in the field by using the adjustablemechanism or configuration (e.g. screw or slip adjustment) between themating first and second stem portions 230, 240 associated therewith. Aspreviously explained, over time, slippage may occur between the stemportions 230, 240 resulting in sinking or other issues with theunderground utility box 200 (which may cause a depression at grade levelof the ground and/or cause the top end 210 to become buried belowgrade). Further, as also explained above, the underground utility box200 as a whole may sink or otherwise translate deeper into the groundthan original installed (which may cause a depression at grade level ofthe ground and/or cause the top end 210 to become buried below grade).The sleeve 100 constructed in accordance with one or more aspects of thepresent disclosure prevents, for example, the top portion 220 of anadjustable underground utility box 200 (e.g. an underground valve box ortest station) from slipping or otherwise translating below its originaldepth or location in the ground when it was installed. Further, thesleeve 100 constructed in accordance with one or more aspects of thepresent disclosure allows, for example, the top portion 220 of anadjustable underground utility box 200 (e.g. an underground valve box ortest station) to be raised and reset at a defined height or locationthat is prevented from slipping or otherwise translating below itsmodified depth or location in the ground when it was installed.

In some embodiments, multiple sleeves 100 may be utilized. For example,a plurality of stacked or adjacent sleeves 100 may be utilized toincrease the height/length of an adjustable underground utility box 200and/or prevent an adjustable underground utility box 200 from deceasingin height/length (pre- and post-installation). In some such embodiments,adjacent sleeves 100 may include differing cross-sectional shapes and/orlips or rims that prevent such adjacent sleeves 100 from becoming nestedin/about each other.

A sleeve 100, and an underground utility box including a sleeve 100,constructed in accordance with one or more aspects of the presentdisclosure also provides for the installation of an underground utilitybox in any application much less time consuming by, for example,allowing an installer to lock or fix a preferred or predetermined burydepth or location of the top portion 210 of the box 200 in place priorto installation into the ground. This allows the installation to be aneasy one step operation. In this regard, the bottom piece 220 of, forexample, a underground utility box 200, does not have to be first setover or proximate to the buried valve or other underground structure asthe first step of the installation. With the sleeve 100 constructed inaccordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure, the burydepth (e.g. distance between ground level and the underground structure)can be determined prior to installing the box 200 in the ground, and thestem portions 230, 240 can be adjusted accordingly to an appropriatelength to provide the desired distance between the top 210 and bottomportions 220 to provide the overall desired height. The sleeve 100 canthen be installed (e.g. snapped on) over the stem portions 230, 240 ofthe box 200 to lock or fix the predetermined distance between the top210 and bottom portions 220 and the overall height/length of the box200. The box 200 as a whole, configured at the predetermined height andprevented from shortening via the sleeve 100, may then be installed inthe ground (i.e., at least partially underground) and in association(e.g., over) the underground structure, such as to protect theunderground protected structure from corrosion and/or provide access tothe underground structure.

The use of the sleeve 100 constructed in accordance with one or moreaspects of the present disclosure thereby provides an installer with amore precise, quicker and safer installation process by, for example,eliminating any awkward or cumbersome slippage (i.e., accidental orunwanted change in height/length) of the underground utility box 200during installation. When the time for installation arrives, the box 200can be installed as one piece. This lessens the chances of dropping,breaking or even injury during assembly and installation.

A sleeve 100 constructed in accordance with one or more aspects of thepresent disclosure also enables an installer to adjust the height/lengthof an underground utility box 200 (e.g., via telescoping tube or stemportions 230, 240) to a height/length, and then utilize the sleeve 100between the bottom 220 and top 210 end portions (e.g., as a wrap aroundthe outside shaft or stems 230, 240 of the box 200) to ensure that boththe specified bury depth of the top portion 210 is maintained while alsomaintaining/increasing the overall integrity and life of the box 200.Further, by preassembling the underground valve box 200 with the sleeve100 constructed in accordance with one or more aspects of the presentdisclosure as one complete unit (e.g. as illustrated in FIGS. 2-3) inthe desired fixed height/length, an installer can easily install the box200 underground with/to the underground structure in a less clumsy andeasier installation process that reduces mistakes (e.g., incorrect boxheight/length and/or location/depth of the top portion or end 210 of thebox). Further, such an installation process also enables the installerto install the box 200 underground with respect to the undergroundstructure while remaining above ground.

Still further, a sleeve 100 constructed in accordance with one or moreaspects of the present disclosure may prevent any excess dirt or debrisfrom entering into the adjustable stem portions 230, 240 of anadjustable underground utility box. For example, when dirt or debrisenters into such an adjustable underground utility box, it can interferewith the height/length adjustment mechanism or configuration (e.g.,prevent operation of a slip type adjustment mechanism or a threaded typeadjustment mechanism). Such dirt/debris therefore must be removed fromthe adjustment mechanism in such adjustable underground utility boxes,and thereby potentially requiring an assembly and/or installationprocess from being repeated and/or redone.

It is to be understood that the above description is intended to beillustrative, and not restrictive. For example, the above-describedembodiments (and/or aspects thereof) may be used in combination witheach other. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt aparticular situation or material to the teachings of the disclosurewithout departing from its scope. While the dimensions and types ofmaterials described herein are intended to define the parameters of thedisclosure, they are by no means limiting and are exemplary embodiments.Many other embodiments will be apparent to those of ordinary skill inthe art upon reviewing the above description. The scope of thedisclosure should, therefore, be determined with reference to theappended claims, along with the full scope of equivalents to which suchclaims are entitled.

In the appended description, the terms “including” and “in which” areused as the plain-English equivalents of the respective terms“comprising” and “wherein.” Moreover, in the following claims, the terms“first,” “second,” etc. if any, are used merely as labels, and are notintended to impose numerical or positional requirements on theirobjects. Further, the limitations of the following claims are notwritten in means-plus-function format and are not intended to beinterpreted based on 35 U.S.C. § 112, sixth paragraph, unless and untilsuch claim limitations expressly use the phrase “means for” followed bya statement of function void of further structure.

This written description uses examples to disclose several embodimentsof the disclosure, including the best mode, and also to enable anyperson of ordinary skill in the art to practice the embodiments ofdisclosure, including making and using any devices or systems andperforming any incorporated methods. The patentable scope of thedisclosure is defined by the claims, and may include other examples thatoccur to those of ordinary skill in the art. Such other examples areintended to be within the scope of the claims if they have structuralelements that do not differ from the literal language of the claims, orif they include equivalent structural elements with insubstantialdifferences from the literal languages of the claims

As used herein, an element or step recited in the singular and proceededwith the word “a” or “an” should be understood as not excluding pluralof said elements or steps, unless such exclusion is explicitly stated.Furthermore, references to “one embodiment” of the present disclosureare not intended to be interpreted as excluding the existence ofadditional embodiments that also incorporate the recited features.Moreover, unless explicitly stated to the contrary, embodiments“comprising,” “including,” or “having” an element or a plurality ofelements having a particular property may include additional suchelements not having that property.

All publications cited in this specification are herein incorporated byreference as if each individual publication were specifically andindividually indicated to be incorporated by reference herein as thoughfully set forth. Subject matter incorporated by reference is notconsidered to be an alternative to any claim limitations, unlessotherwise explicitly indicated.

Where one or more ranges are referred to throughout this specification,each range is intended to be a shorthand format for presentinginformation, where the range is understood to encompass each discretepoint within the range as if the same were fully set forth herein.

While the disclosure has been described in detail in connection withonly a limited number of embodiments, it should be readily understoodthat the disclosure is not limited to such disclosed embodiments.Rather, the disclosure can be modified to incorporate any number ofvariations, alterations, substitutions or equivalent arrangements notheretofore described, but which are commensurate with the spirit andscope of the disclosure. Additionally, while various embodiments of thedisclosure have been described, it is to be understood that aspects ofthe disclosure may include only some of the described embodiments.Accordingly, the disclosure is not to be seen as limited by theforegoing description, but is only limited by the scope of the appendedclaims.

I claim:
 1. A method of preventing shortening of an adjustableunderground utility box, comprising: adjusting the length of a stemportion of a utility box to adjust the distance between top and bottomportions of the utility box such that when the bottom portion ispositioned underground at or proximate to an underground structure thetop portion is positioned at or proximate to a top surface of theground; and coupling a substantially rigid sleeve to the stem portionsuch that the sleeve extends between the top and bottom portions of theutility box to prevent the stem portion from shortening the distancebetween the top and bottom portions.
 2. The method of claim 1, whereinthe sleeve prevents movement of the top portion of the utility boxtoward the bottom portion and the underground structure when the bottomportion is positioned underground at or proximate to the undergroundstructure.
 3. The method of claim 1, further comprising positioning thebottom portion of the utility box underground at or proximate to theunderground structure such that the top portion of the utility box ispositioned at or proximate to the top surface of the ground.
 4. Themethod of claim 3, wherein the sleeve is coupled to the stem portionprior to the bottom portion being positioned underground at or proximateto the underground structure.
 5. The method of claim 3, wherein thebottom portion is positioned underground at or proximate to theunderground structure prior to the sleeve being coupled to the stemportion.
 6. The method of claim 1, wherein the sleeve comprises anelongate tube member that defines an internal cavity that extendsthrough the tube, and wherein coupling the sleeve to the stem portioncomprises positioning the stem portion within the internal cavity. 7.The method of claim 6, wherein the tube member comprises an opening thatextends along the entirety of the length of the tube member, andpositioning the stem portion within the internal cavity comprisespassing the stem portion through the opening.
 8. The method of claim 1,wherein adjusting the length of a stem portion comprises adjusting aconnection between a first stem portion extending from the top portionand a second stem portion extending from the bottom portion.
 9. A sleevefor an adjustable underground utility box, comprising: a substantiallyrigid tube member that is elongated along a height direction and definesan internal cavity that extends through the tube along the heightdirection and an opening that extends along the entirety of the tubemember along the height direction and is in communication with theinternal cavity, wherein the tube member is configured to couple to alength adjustable stem portion that extends between bottom and topportions of an adjustable underground utility box along the heightdirection such that the stem portion extends through the internal cavityand the tube member extends between the top and bottom portions toprevent the distance between the top and bottom portions along theheight direction from shortening.
 10. An underground utility box,comprising: a top portion configured to be positioned at or proximate toa top surface of a ground when the box is installed; an elongate firstsleeve portion extending from the top portion along a height direction;a bottom portion configured to be positioned underground at or proximateto an underground structure when the box is installed; a second sleeveportion extending the bottom portion along the height direction; and astem portion extending between the top and bottom portions along theheight direction, the length of the stem portion along the heightdirection being adjustable to adjust the distance between the top andbottom portions along the height direction and thereby the total heightof the box; and a substantially rigid sleeve extending between the topand bottom portions that prevents the stem portion from shortening thedistance between the top and bottom portions along the height directionand thereby the shortening of the total height of the box.
 11. Theutility box of claim 10, wherein the sleeve comprises a tube member thatis elongated along the height direction and defines an internal cavitythat extends through the tube along the height direction.
 12. Theutility box of claim 11, wherein the stem portion extends through theinternal cavity such that the tube member extends about the stemportion.
 13. The utility box of claim 12, wherein the tube membercomprises an opening that extends along the entirety of the length ofthe tube member along the height direction, and wherein sleeve isconfigured to allow the stem portion to pass through the opening of thetube member.
 14. The utility box of claim 13, wherein a width of theopening of the tube member is equal to or greater than a width of thestem portion.
 15. The utility box of claim 13, wherein a width of theopening of the tube member is less than a width of the stem portion, andwherein the tube member is deformable to widen the opening to a widththat is equal to or greater than the width of the stem portion.
 16. Theutility box of claim 10, wherein the sleeve allows the stem portion tolengthen the distance between the top and bottom portions along theheight direction and thereby the lengthen of the total height of thebox.
 17. The utility box of claim 10, wherein the stem portion comprisesa first stem portion extending from the top portion toward the bottomportion along the height direction, and a second stem portion extendingfrom the bottom portion toward the top portion along the heightdirection.
 18. The utility box of claim 17, wherein the first and secondstem portions are telescopically coupled or threadably to provide theheight adjustability of the sleeve.
 19. The utility box of claim 10,wherein the top portion, the stem portion and the bottom portion form aninternal passageway that provides access to the underground structurefrom above the ground.
 20. The utility box of claim 10, furthercomprising a sacrificial metal material electrically coupled to theunderground structure that is more easily corroded by an electrochemicalcorrosion process than the underground structure to protect theunderground structure from corrosion.